Written Answer to Unanswered Oral Question

Response to Advanced Medical Directive and Advanced Care Plan

Speakers

Transcript

57 Ms Joan Pereira asked the Minister for Health (a) how many Singaporeans have signed their Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) and Advanced Care Plan (ACP) in the last five years; (b) whether the Ministry has a target percentage of older Singaporeans to complete these documentations; and (c) whether there are any further plans to increase the awareness of and encourage a higher completion rate of AMD and ACP among the population.

Mr Ong Ye Kung: In the last five years, 23,700 Singaporeans have signed their Advanced Medical Directive (AMD) and 26,500 have made their Advance Care Plan (ACP).

We encourage all Singaporeans to discuss their healthcare preferences with their loved ones and healthcare providers and document them through the ACP and AMD, so that their wishes can be honoured when they are unable to express them. We will amplify these messages through a nationwide campaign to be launched in the later part of this year. It will include roadshows, media and publicity efforts and a digital campaign on the importance of planning ahead and how to do so.

To encourage uptake, we also launched the My Legacy portal in 2020, which serves as a one-stop portal for the public on end-of-life issues. We will continue to make it easier for Singaporeans to plan ahead.